The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a one-year nutritional intervention with either betaine or vitamin E supplementation, or a weight reducing diet and exercise program on liver steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Patients will be asked to consume a self-selected, low fat, low-calorie diet of approximately 1200 kcal/d, which is consistent with American Heart Association guidelines for healthy weight reduction. Subjects will be provided with a videotape involving a structured 20 min aerobic exercise to be performed 3x/week.

Other Names:

This arm was removed from the study protocol, as the enrollment was slow and

Concurrent medical illness contra-indicating a liver biopsy, history of unexplained bleeding, hemophilia or abnormal coagulation results as per routine laboratory work-up or other reason judged by the hepatologist to contra-indicate a percutaneous liver biopsy

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00152815